Ingram sets blistering pace to top opening Thruxton practice

EXCELR8 Motorsport's Tom Ingram has emerged from the opening British Touring Car Championship free practice of the weekend fastest of all after setting a blistering pace at Thruxton.

The Hyundai i30N driver arrives at Thruxton firmly in the BTCC title hunt, just 15-points adrift of current series leader and four-time champion Colin Turkington.

Keen to regain the points lead he once held earlier in the season, Ingram produced a sensational lap in FP1 to top the session by almost 0.5s ahead of his nearest challenger Jake Hill in second position.

Unsurprisingly, Thruxton specialist Josh Cook ended the session at the sharp end of the table after setting the third fastest time aboard his BTC Racing prepared Honda Civic Type-R.

Having led the championship standings earlier in the year, Cook will be hoping for a renaissance in form this weekend after falling 72-points adrift of the points lead in recent rounds.

Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall's Ash Hand was a surprise entry to the top-five with fourth fastest time ahead of defending champion Ash Sutton in fifth position.

Stephen Jelley led his Team BMW stablemate Colin Turkington in sixth and seventh. Turkington has recently taken control of the title race following a superb double win last time out at Snetterton.

With the remainder of his 2022 BTCC campaign now secured with new Bristol Street Motors backing, Dan Lloyd set the eighth fastest time aboard his Hyundai i30N.

Three-time champion Gordon Shedden was ninth ahead of NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish in tenth.